Lactose Intolerance & Eggs

Diane Marks

About the Author:

Diane Marks

Diane Marks started her writing career in 2010 and has been in health care administration for more than 30 years. She holds a registered nurse license from Citizens General Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts in health care education from California University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in health administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

If you’ve been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, you can eat eggs as long as you don’t add any milk. Eggs do not contain lactose, the sugar found in milk, according to Drugs.com, but use caution when purchasing premixed egg products because they might contain milk proteins. If you develop lactose-intolerance symptoms after eating eggs, you might have an egg allergy. Talk with you doctor if you develop adverse reactions after eating eggs.

About Lactose Intolerance

If you’re lactose intolerant, you can’t digest lactose due to a shortage of lactase in your small intestines. When you drink milk, your small intestines produce an enzyme to break lactose down into galactose and glucose. If your intestines fail to produce enough lactase or don’t produce any, the lactose will pass through your gastrointestinal tract and enter your colon. Once lactose enters the colon, bacteria that are present digest the sugar and cause excessive bloating, gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Eggs and Lactose

Eggs are commonly confused for dairy, but they do not contain any of the proteins or sugar found in dairy products. Eggs might, however, be prepared with cream, cheese and other condiments that contain lactose. If you eat eggs with added milk, you might develop lactose-intolerance symptoms. If you’re eating out, ask your server if the eggs are prepared with milk. If you choose to eat eggs with added dairy products, take a lactase supplement before consuming them to prevent symptoms.

Egg Allergy

Allergies and intolerances are commonly confused. Lactose intolerance is not the same condition as a milk allergy. If you are lactose intolerant and develop adverse reactions after eating eggs, you might have an egg allergy, which can cause similar symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, cramping and stomach pain. An egg allergy is not caused by the digestive system but is a reaction of the immune system that causes symptoms throughout your body.

Considerations

Everyone tolerates different amounts of lactose. If you’re not severely lactose intolerant, you might find that eating eggs with a small amount of dairy doesn’t cause any symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you develop hives, facial swelling or shortness of breath after eating eggs. These are signs of a severe allergic reaction that might be life-threatening.